Schalke 04 starts radical rejuvenation cure: New talents conquer the place!

Schalke 04 starts radical rejuvenation cure: New talents conquer the place!

in the heart of Gelsenkirchen, FC Schalke 04 under the direction of the new squad planner Ben Manga takes a remarkable upheaval. With a clear focus on rejuvenation, the association aims to improve its age structure. The old average age of 26.38 years in the 2023/24 season, which made Schalke one of the oldest teams in the second division, is noticeably reduced.

ben manga, the 50-year-old new squad planner, commented in an interview with the online platform Transfermarkt.de about the previous structures of the team. "The age structure was not good in my eyes," said manga, emphasizing the need for a balanced mix of experienced and young players. While most players have been in experience in the past, Manga sees the chance to bring a breath of fresh air into play with the new, developable talents.

The focus is on young talents

With measures that support the rejuvenation of the team, Manga has already achieved initial successes. On the departure side, the association primarily relied on younger players. For example, the departures of an average of 26.1 years are above the average of 22.1 years. The key to this approach is convinced that the development of the squad is promoted by targeted investments in young talents. This not only enables sporting improvements, but also an increased financial performance of the players.

Examples such as the Königstransfer Moussa Sylla, which was signed for around 2.5 million euros and quickly gained in market value, show manga's strategy. Sylla is considered a prime example of a player whose development steps promise great potential. But not every young player immediately finds his place on the field; Felipe Sanchez showed mixed services in his first missions.

Schalke gives his players time

However, the club management has signaled that the young players need time to develop. Those responsible like Manga are aware that setbacks can belong. Players like Emil Höjlund or Ilyes Hamache receive the necessary support to establish themselves in the team. A certain pressure will nevertheless prevail, especially against the background of the financial challenges that the association has to deal with.

An important point for the future orientation will be the coaching search. The management level around Manga faces the challenge of finding a new coach that understands and can implement the philosophy of upheaval. So far, interim coaches such as Jakob Fimpel have already rely on talents and young in -house plants, which enables a promising direction for the development of the team.

If all building blocks are put together and the new strategy works on the pitch, Schalke 04 hopes that future transfers like Sylla will become the standard and not for the exception. Manga's approach will be observed intently, because the coming months could be crucial for whether the association can successfully control the desired course. Other aspects of this upheaval and the current developments are on www.fr.de to read.